Damnit!

[punkpie]

I just purchased my first new Beetle 5 few days ago. I'm extremely pleased with the car but driving it has been slightly nervewracking- the novelty hasn't worn off and I'm paranoid about something bad happening. Well it didn't take long...

This morning at 5am I was cruising along to work, doing about 75mph, when suddenly I saw a huge bundle of fiberglass insulation just SITTING in front of me, in the fast lane. It was too late for me to swerve and so big that even if I DID, I'd still hit it. (I was also taught as a driver not react to things like that- it can cause an even worse accident.) So I braced myself and hit the insulation. I heard a big THUD! and the pink stuff mostly blew up. However, the metal cable and thick plastic it was wrapped in went under my car and got stuck. Part of it unraveled and began to drag behind me, and I immediately worried about fire starting under my car. Luckily I was very close to my freeway exit so I got off. In the parking lot at work I had to lay on my back (in my nice clean clothes, GAH!) to work the remaining insulation and wire out from where it was stuck. I took this picture of what came out. You can see my shoe on the left for size reference.



I didn't smell anything burning and from what I could see, my car looks OK. But that was by the dim parking lot light. I am pissed off though... what if I go out in the sunshine and see there is damage to my car underneath? The irony is, I just ordered a bra for her yesterday. That would have helped protect her, had it been on. I want to find the stupid sonofabitch doesn't know how to secure his cargo, and left it for me to hit. The plastic wrap says "JPLamborn insulation" on it but that's all the information I have to go on. AAAAAAAAARGH!

[Kickeroo]

I'm glad you're OK.

The insualtion name might not help you much, however, you might be able to track down a bar-code, if you can find one.

Well, I know how it is to hit something right after buying it. My fiorst street motocycle met the business end of a ditch 72 hours after I bought it. That was back in 87 or so.

Did you leave the stuff there? It might help to have it

[Kickeroo]

a google search on JP Lampborn didn't reveal much...just that you're dealing with a nation-wide comany.

The products they make appear to be for air duct-insualtion, but that doesn't help wit the search.

[Kickeroo]

Where in the Sacremento-area did the incident occur?

[kcfoxie]

*BIGHUG*

I hit a semi's tire with Charlie, my 2002. All body damage, radiator and compressor were fine (their lower support, fiberglass, broke though). $1300 or so later.. I was fine. I claimed my accident on my insurance, paid my deductable, and took it to the lexus' dealer's repair shop (they do good work and have a VW guy). I'd say your best bet is to keep the photos, check the car in the day time and if there is damage claim it on insurance for the repair. If your car has the plastic belly pan, nothing could (easily) get up into the engine. Especially if you have the splash guards on either side of the engine -- most beetles have them (some 2.0s don't). All in all, you should be OK though.

I am sorry it happened Look on the bright side: your bug took the hit in stride, and is still going strong!!

[punkpie]

thanks guys...

On my lunch hour I'm going to go outside and see if the pile is still in the parking lot. Take more pics and check for anything else that may be stuck/other damage. I'm totally glad that nothing major happened but it's just so dissappointing.

I'm going to do some research and see if I can find anything on the insulation company (and any trucks that may have been hauling their stuff on Hwy 50 this morning.)

[dnyed]

Wow! Look at all of that crap! Road debris is such a dangerous thing. Kudos to you for your handling of the sitch.


In October 2003, our 2003 TDI, that we used to have, hit a driveline that had come loose from a farm truck on the freeway. It bent the two left wheels, flattened both tires, and put a couple of nice sized dents in it. A few other cars hit it too. Luckily, the farm truck had no drive line, so it couldn't get away. Their insurance paid for the damage.

In your case, a preventative check-up may be a good thing for your car. Good luck!

[punkpie]

More pics of the crap... and my hand, so you can see how thick the cable/wire is. Buglet needs a bath, there is wet insulation stuck all over the front of her.

[GatorBeetle]

I agree with Deb, get the car checked. Probably no problems, especially if your lower shield is still intact under your engine bay, but better safe than sorry. there are a few things down there that could have damaged, but not too many, the underside of cars, while not designed for that kind of hit are designed pretty well because they know stuff is going to hit down there from time to time...

When I was in High School I was on a trip with a friend in his car when he hit a shred of Semi tread (we call them road gators, go figure.) It whipped up the driver's side door, sounded like a cannon going off and shatterred the window. Not fun.

That definately looks like a shredded duct. If you saw the pink before hitting it, you were probably not the first to encounter it this morning.

[GatorBeetle]

Oh, and glad you are alright, and that your Bug seems ok...

[punkpie]

I think I was the first to hit it because it was intact... the truck must have JUST dropped it what luck!

I will get it checked out as soon as I can though.

[Lnzbug]

So sorry to hear about your encounter this morning.I hope your beetle is ok.

[gilligan]

Dude thats your shoe!!!!! where do you work in a disco??

[Papa Bug]

Originally Posted by gilligan

Dude thats your shoe!!!!! where do you work in a disco??

Dude is a dudette.

[punkpie]

Originally Posted by gilligan

Dude thats your shoe!!!!! where do you work in a disco??

LMAO!!! Those are my Steve Madden stacked pennyloafers. (And I think the shadow makes it look weird too.) I'm only 5 feet tall... I need all the help I can get.

And to follow up... I noticed two very small chips on the windshield from this little "adventure." Other than that I haven't seen any damage.

[marisagi]

awwwwww sorry to hear about what happen and it always seems to happen to new cars! I totally know how that "ouch" feels! Last year not even a month after i got my buggie it was in a fender bender that cost over $3000! People just dont know how precious our bugs are to us! I think your bug should be fine, but if not did you get a warranty?

[punkpie]

Yes.... I have a 60 month/100,000 mile warranty

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by gilligan

Dude thats your shoe!!!!! where do you work in a disco??

That was pretty funny. Got a good chuckle out of that one.

By the by, be safe and get your baby checked out.

Buttercups first experience was, beetle vs. cat. I was going for an twilight spin and while I was approaching the Gate Gas station over by my house, a cat who had a death wish, lunged out in front of me an subsequently went under buttercup. Of course I was feeling double pain, cause I hit a cat (I dig cats), and of course buttercup was in distress... Her cowl underneath was sheered of the undercarrage. The kicker of it all was that a couple of days later on my way to work, as I was approaching the same Gate station, the same cat was roaming around the neighborhood, less the death wish attempts. Mr. cat is doing fine, roaming the streets, and my bug is jacked up!!!

Another major hemmorroid occured thanksgiving '04. This happened shortly after I got Buttercup out of the body shop from what was $3000.00+ of repairs of a guy running into my driver-side quarter panel.

I was driving W. on I-10 to get to I-75 to meet up with my wife and kin in Atlanta. While driving on I-10, with a smile on my face in result of the fine work done on buttercup, A rock flew out of a dump truck hauling it's load, bounced on the road and hit buttercup in her newly-painted left quarter panel. Thank God there was no crack in her panel, but there is a nasty scratch as a keepsake. I hate road debris and the jerkweeds who leave/drop it. I'm feeling your pain.

I'm sure GATORBEETLE can testify to this. Here in Jax, there is a bridge which is notorious for drivers dropping ladders, plywood, other building materials and even furniture on it. It is the Buckman Bridge and it is road debris hell.

Drivers wanted, Drivers beware
Al/ScarabY2k

[GatorBeetle]

Amen, my brother...I try to stay off that bridge, especially at rush hour. People drive super fast over it too.

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by GatorBeetle

Amen, my brother...I try to stay off that bridge, especially at rush hour. People drive super fast over it too.

Don't mention a 2.5 mile bridge and super fast to a 1.8turbo bug owner....tempt me not my brother?? LOL. Yeah, I try to avoid it during rush hour too.